What it does
Microsoft Copilot is a multimodal AI companion designed to function as a versatile assistant for both productivity and creativity. The app allows users to ask complex questions, get detailed, structured answers, and then transform that information into new formats. Its core capabilities include text-based chat, voice conversations, visual search using the device's camera, and the generation of creative content like images, structured pages, quizzes, and even podcasts.
Where it shines
Copilot excels in its ability to go beyond simple question-and-answer interactions. At 03:41, the user takes a previously discussed topic, "UI Design," and instructs the AI to "Create a page about" it, instantly generating a well-organized document. It shines again at 04:31 when the user asks it to create a quiz on the same topic, providing an interactive way to learn. The app's creative power is on full display at 07:15, where it generates a fantasy image from a simple text prompt.
UX highlights
- Frictionless Start: The app skips any form of traditional onboarding, dropping the user directly into the chat interface after permissions (00:04), prioritizing immediate interaction.
- Multimodal Inputs: Users are not limited to text. They can switch to a conversational voice mode (01:42) or use their camera to ask questions about the physical world (02:13).
- Structured Outputs: Instead of just text blocks, Copilot delivers information in well-formatted ways, such as the UI vs. UX comparison table at 00:43, making complex data easy to understand.
- Contextual Actions: The app intelligently suggests follow-up actions. For instance, after generating a page, it offers options to edit or take a quiz, creating a seamless workflow.
- Content as a Tool: The AI doesn't just provide answers; it creates usable assets. The ability to generate a podcast (08:00) or a quiz (04:31) turns the chat into a powerful creation suite.
Monetization & growth
Monetization is not pushed aggressively during the initial experience. An upgrade path is presented in the user's profile section (09:48), leading to a subscription screen (09:50) that offers Microsoft 365 Premium and Personal plans. The screen highlights key benefits like higher limits and access to Copilot in Microsoft 365 apps. For growth, the app employs an in-app rating prompt (00:59) and a more detailed survey (10:57) to gather user feedback.
Who it’s for
Copilot appears to be for a broad audience, from students and lifelong learners to creative professionals and general knowledge seekers. Students can use it to research topics and create study aids like quizzes and summaries. Creatives can leverage the image and podcast generation for brainstorming and content creation. Professionals might use it to quickly draft documents or get up to speed on new subjects.
Notes & opportunities
While powerful, the content management feels slightly fragmented. Generated pages, podcasts, and images are accessed through different parts of the app (Library vs. main chat). A unified library for all created assets could streamline the user experience. Additionally, the quiz feature, while excellent, could be enhanced with progress tracking or the ability to save and retake quizzes later.